United States withdraws from UNESCO

The government announced on Tuesday that the United States will exit from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Trump administration made this decision on the grounds that the agenda of the U.N. cultural and educational agency has an ideological bias.

Partnership with UNESCO is "at odds with our America First foreign policy," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

In addition, the government believes the agency is biased against Israel and promotes divisive causes. The move was criticized by the agency.

Bruce described the organization as an entity that "promotes divisive social and cultural causes" and is overly focused on the U.N.'s sustainability goals, which she called an ideological globalist agenda.

The spokeswoman also questioned UNESCO's recognition of Palestine as a state.

Three withdrawals in 40 years

This is the third time Washington has left UNESCO in the course of 40 years.

In October 2017, during his first term, Donald Trump had announced the country's withdrawal from the body. He also criticized the institution's "persistent anti-Israel biases." This withdrawal, followed by Israel's, became effective in December 2018.

Under the Biden administration, the United States returned to UNESCO and committed to fully reimburse, according to a staggered payment, its funds since 2011, totaling $619 million.

In 1984, Ronald Reagan also broke the United States' partnership with the organization, citing what he saw as its futility and budgetary excesses. Washington rejoined in October 2003.

Macron's reaction

After learning of the decision, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his "unwavering support" for Paris-based UNESCO in a message on X.

"The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment alongside those who lead this fight," the president said.